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EMRC’s energy pyrolysis plant approved in Hazelmere

Protestors at the facility in October 2014, who unsuccessfully appealed the location of the facility in Hazelmere.

Alliance for a Clean Environment spokeswoman Jane Bremmer said the area was already “overwhelmed with acid gases” which undermined public health.

“This incinerator will increase public health impacts,” she said.

“Burning wood for energy emits more carbon dioxide per unit of energy than coal, as well as a whole load of toxic air pollutants.

“It is no renewable energy solution and will waste a valuable resource that could be composted, reused and recycled.”

The next step in the process is for Mr Jacob to consult with decision-making authorities and seek agreement on whether the proposal may be implemented or not.

The EPA presided over a two-week comment period in November 2015, when the public was invited to |appeal the application for the plant.

In a press release the Alliance for a Clean Environment said the project represented an expensive experiment that could put east metropolitan councils at significant financial risk.

Ms Bremmer said the East Metropolitan Regional Council had not represented the best interests of their constituents while allowing “dirty energy incinerators” into the east, knowing full well the community had consistently rejected these projects since 2004.

“The minister has made the wrong decision and we urge him to reverse his decision immediately,” Ms Bremmer said.

Midland MLA Michelle Roberts said it was a very disappointing decision.

“The area has enough polluting industry and it is adjoining the new redevelopment area of Midland,’’ Ms Roberts said.

“If they want to trial this technology it should be outside the metro area.

“Hazelmere has an industrial part but it also has a residential part and it abuts the centre of Midland and is within 15km of the Perth CBD.

“This plant is very expensive and it gives the green light to these sorts of industrial factories and takes us in the wrong direction.”

The EMRC said the Hazelmere site would divert significant waste from landfill and process it into reusable products.

The proposed Hazelmere wood waste to energy plant will form one component of a new park and will be used to process residual waste (wood chip) by indirectly heating it to produce reusable resources.

The EMRC’s website said pyrolysis was similar to gasification and turned waste into energy-rich fuels by heating the waste under controlled conditions to produce a synthetic gas.